“Enacting the sales tax would be the biggest tax increase in the history of Manitowoc County and I’m certainly opposed to that.”
That statment from Manitowoc County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer as he refers to the opinion of a couple of County Board Supervisors who would like to in his words fund the estimated $25 to $30 million courthouse dome renovation project by raising the county sales tax by a half-of-a percent.
He says an increase in the sales tax is ”oppressive and cruel” because ”It’s a regressive tax.”
Ziegelbauer also noted, “It hurts those most with the lower incomes, taking too much away in a short amount of time to fund the project and heaping the tax on the project that can least afford to pay is not good.”
Ziegelbauer strongly believes that a maximum one-time nominal increase in the property tax of 1.5 to 2.5 percent and spreading out the costs to future taxpayers is the best route to go.
“Taxpayers can pay it, stretching it out on the property tax for 20 or 25 years for a nominal increase, a very small increase,” the County Executive said. “We can also take advantage of state and federal subsidies if we do that.”
The project also includes a replacement of the Courthouse’s HVAC system and windows.
Discussions continue with the hope that a funding decision will be made in either August or September.
The Courthouse Dome Committee meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month.
For more information visit ManitowocCountyWI.gov.
